Aardman, the award-winning UK studio, is celebrating the upcoming opening of the new attraction, The Scrap Flyer (Skrotflygaren), on 2 July in Shaun the Sheep Land (Fåret Shaun Land) at Skånes Djurpark, Sweden.
Created by Shaun the Sheep and his Flock, The Scrap Flyer takes visitors on an adventure high above the park and marks a significant expansion to the 20,000-square-metre land.
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Ingenious interactive ride
Using scrap bicycles, fans, paint, and a cement mixer 'borrowed' from the Farmer, Shaun the Sheep and the Flock have built a new flying machine to add to the fairgrounds in Shaun the Sheep Land.
The resulting interactive ride, The Scrap Flyer, has been developed through a partnership between Skånes Djurpark, Aardman, and the ride manufacturer Zamperla.
Each of the ride's flying bicycles is unique in colour and shape, and include references to characters from the popular IPImage courtesy of Skånes Djurpark
Visitors over 90 centimetres tall are invited to test the Flock's invention, which rises as riders pedal.
Glenn André Eikelund, CEO of Skånes Djurpark, says: "This is a highly anticipated expansion of Shaun the Sheep Land that doubles the fun and spreads plenty of high-flying joy this summer.
"I am also particularly proud that the Flock's invention highlights recycling as a theme, encouraging us all to reflect and reuse things."
The flying bicycles each have a different colour and shape, and include Shaun the Sheep's favourite colours as well as marks from the mischievous pigs.
The Flock has also built a wheelchair-accessible, arm-powered flying machine to ensure more people can join in the fun.
Shaun the Sheep and the Flock have created the new ride to extend the land's attractions
Image courtesy of Skånes Djurpark
Ngaio Harding-Hill, director of attractions and live experiences and archive, Aardman, says:
"It is incredibly satisfying to see how Skånes Djurpark has brought Shaun's inventive spirit to life with The Scrap Flyer.
"It is fantastic that the attraction is so inclusive and that guests get to use their own muscle power to make it fly – it truly captures the Flock's ingenuity in a perfect way."
"It is fantastic that we get to be a part of expanding the immensely popular Shaun the Sheep Land with the world's first interactive Shaun the Sheep ride," says Charles De Bruyne at Zamperla.
"The experience truly captures Shaun the Sheep's energy and is a perfect addition for anyone who wants to fly this summer."
Earlier this year, Aardman and Lightroom unveiled details of a new immersive experience, Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More, opening in October.
